Bribery Act – enforcement by Serious Fraud Office

The Bribery Act comes into effect on 1 July 2011. The ABPI, PMCPA and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) clarify enforcement in cases of overlap between the Act and the ABPI Code of Practice.

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The Act has attracted much controversy, and the ABPI has been at pains to liaise with the SFO to present the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry.

The ABPI and PMCPA have had meetings with both Richard Alderman, Director of the SFO, and Vivian Robinson, SFO’s General Counsel. The SFO believes that the ABPI Code of Practice will help companies governed by it in responding to the requirements of the Act, particularly in areas such as hospitality, gifts and inducements to prescribe to healthcare professionals. Of cours​​e, the Act’s remit goes wider than that, and pharmaceutical companies will be reviewing their procedures to ensure full compliance.

Discussions with the SFO have led to the development of a 'Memorandum of understanding' which provides some clarity around which agency is likely to lead on enforcement for breaches of the ABPI Code in cases where a Code breach is also a potential breach of the Act.

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The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

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(registered number 09826787) and its registered office is at
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The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of ABPI which is a company registered in England and Wales (registered number 09826787) with its registered office at 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

The Office of Health Economics (OHE) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 09848965) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. OHE provides independent research, advisory and consultancy services on policy implications and economic issues within the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology sectors.